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CiragoTV platinum CMC3000 network multimedia center announced to join set top box masses

Ben Bowers — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:50:00 EST

Not satisfied with the current rat pack of set top media players flooding the market like the Popbox, Boxee Box, AppleTV, or WD Elements Play? Then perhaps the CiragoTV platinum CMC3000 might tickle your fancy. Yes it lacks brand name recognition, but it's no slouch in the specs department and supports all manner of codecs, 1080p playback, UPnP networking, timeshift recording, and even includes a built-in NAS with a BitTorrent client. Connectivity wise, the box features an HDMi output, two USB ports for tacking on additional storage, and a media card reader that also takes MemorySticks for you die-hard Sony fans. Though it's sold in 500GB for $229, considering the 1TB sizes is only $249, we're not sure who'd balk at coughing up an additional $20 for double the storage. Remember that's twice the space for Voltron folks. For more details watch the PR video after the break.

Continue reading CiragoTV platinum CMC3000 network multimedia center announced to join set top box masses

CiragoTV platinum CMC3000 network multimedia center announced to join set top box masses originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple TV vs. the competition -- how does it stack up?

Richard Lawler — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:14:00 EST

Although it's only just been revealed and won't actually go on sale for four long weeks, Apple's new hockey puck is far from the only media streamer on the market -- and with Sony's Netbox and the Boxee Box on the way, the sub-$200 set-top box market is exploding with options. So let's line up the revised Apple TV against the (post-price cut) Roku HD-XR, Popbox, and even an LG Blu-ray player in the same price range and see what you're actually getting -- and more importantly, getting access to -- on each device. Oh, and there's some choice words from Roku after the break.

Update: You asked for them, so we added the PS3, Xbox 360 & WDTV Live as well, after the break.

Device:	AppleTV	Roku XR	Pop Box	LG BD550

Price:	$99	$99	$129	$130 - $150
Form Factor/Size:	3.9 x 0.9 x 3.9	5 x 5 x 1.75	8 x 1.4 x 6 inches	16.9 x 1.8 x 7.9
Available Content:	HD TV shows from ABC & Fox ($0.99), HD Movie rentals ($4.99/$3.99), Netflix, iTunes, YouTube	Netflix, Amazon VOD (now with $0.99 HD TV show purchases from Fox & ABC), MLB.tv, UFC, NBA GameTime, YouTube, Pandora	YouTube, Revision3, Blip.tv, h.264 / XviD / MPEG-4, MKV / AVI / WMV	Blu-ray discs, VUDU, Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, Pandora, Napster
Apps / SDK:	N/A	Roku Channel / SDK available	Popapps Store / SDK available	NetCast widgets
Connectivity:	WiFi N, Ethernet	WiFi N, Ethernet	Ethernet, optional WiFi adapter	Ethernet, Disc
Video Quality:	720p, 5.1 audio	720p (1080p upgrade coming soon), 5.1 audio	1080p, 5.1 audio	1080p, 7.1 audio, DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD audio

Continue reading Apple TV vs. the competition -- how does it stack up?

Apple TV vs. the competition -- how does it stack up? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Syabas Popbox surprises everyone, including Syabas, by going on sale today

Richard Lawler — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:34:00 EST

We thought we had another week or so to get ready, but no, the Popbox is on sale already, with some preorderers reporting they got shipment notifications as early as yesterday. In case you've forgotten since CES, the $129 box takes the Popcorn Hour into a more general consumer friendly form with an all new interface and SDK, YouTube access, support for 100Mbps bitrate 1080p video and more -- just not the Netflix access (at least for now) we were originally promised. According to the official Twitter account -- also accessible with a new "Popapp" -- a quicker than expected route through customs is to thank/blame for the launch, but whatever, we're one step closer to the 2010 media streamer battle we've been waiting for. It's your move, Boxee Box.

[Thanks, Jason]

Gallery: Syabas Popbox hands-on

Gallery: Popbox UI Screenshots

Syabas Popbox surprises everyone, including Syabas, by going on sale today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Syabas provides tease of upcoming PopBox UI

Ben Bowers — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:33:00 EST

We've already seen a lot of the Popbox, which is due out on July 23rd, but now we're getting a peek at the UI. Screenshots revealed on the company's blog showcase a welcome screen featuring quick access to the media library, apps, search and settings. We've also got a center "home" bar of presumably customizable widgets for at a glance weather and Twitter updates -- two snippets that you'll undoubtedly be refreshing at a near-maddening pace. Prominent features in the shared media library view include a top navigation bar for browsing by media type and a left sub navigation rail for media subgroups. Features aside though, these slightly distorted images definitely resemble the original Boxee interface, but we're all reminded that what we're seeing now is just an initial version. In other words, don't be shocked and appalled if significant updates come quickly after the device's official launch, cool?

Gallery: Popbox UI Screenshots

Syabas provides tease of upcoming PopBox UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popbox's Netflix-less launch now scheduled for July 23

Richard Lawler — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:56:00 EST

Our wait for the Syabas Popbox just got a little longer, with the official blog announcing it will not ship from Amazon until July 23. Like the Boxee Box, the delay is being blamed on software being not "quite where we wanted it to be" but the real bad news here is the official list of content partners which, for the time being, is missing Netflix. Also not included (but likely not as missed) is SDTV support -- even via analog outputs, the Popbox is apparently an HDTV only affair. As far as whether we will ever see Netflix support Syabas is still giving it the Voldemort treatment, but without naming names it refuted rumors regarding a lack of hardware DRM support with the claim that "the PopBox that ships is, TODAY, capable of supporting all foreseeable App partners in the future WITHOUT requiring a hardware upgrade." Check the blog for a complete list of content providers (Revision3, YouTube, Picasa, Clicker, Twitter and others will be ready to go) and decide if that preorder is still worth holding on to.

Popbox's Netflix-less launch now scheduled for July 23 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popbox updates: July 4th launch window, final word on content partners (Netflix) promised soon

Richard Lawler — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:58:00 EST

The Popbox isn't the only media streamer to have suffered delays since its CES 2010 debut (Boxee Box) but it is nearing availability, and the official blog has been busy reassuring potential buyers it will be everything it can be. As of the most recent update, we should expect hardware to roll out July 4, but there's no word yet whether Netflix will actually be present among the content partners when it ships. ZatzNotFunny noticed weeks ago the movie rental shop's logos had disappeared from Popbox materials and the manufacturer has so far offered no specific reaction, only that it can't discuss the details of its interaction with "top video partners." A complete list of content providers is promised prior to any Amazon preorders shipping, but your guess is as good as ours as to when that will happen, so Watch Instantly fans should definitely continue to keep an eye out.

Popbox updates: July 4th launch window, final word on content partners (Netflix) promised soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PopBox licenses RealD's side by side frame compatible 3D format

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:00:00 EST

Technology patents are a funny thing and it can be difficult to understand that RealD owns the rights to encode 3D in the frame compatible side by side format as displayed above -- without license or consent -- but patents are a reality of the world and so Syabas has licensed RealD's 3D format for the upcoming PopBox which will support the 3D format at launch. No word on if the PopBox will support Blu-ray's Full HD 3D which is actually double the resolution of HD instead of trying to squeeze both perspectives into the same HD frame. At this point it doesn't appear that the PopBox will be HDMI 1.4a compliant so while it'll send the 3D signal to your 3DTV, you'll have to be the one to tell the TV it is receiving 3D in order to ensure the 3rd dimension is displayed. Full release after the jump.

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PopBox licenses RealD's side by side frame compatible 3D format originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube access returning to (some) Popcorn Hour boxes

Richard Lawler — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:49:00 EST

Looks like Google and Syabas have worked out the issues that led to YouTube being pulled from Popcorn Hour media streamers last year, resulting in the site coming back to the A-200 and C-200 boxes and will be available on the Popbox at launch. It's limited to the hardware that are capable of running Flash, which Google notes as the key differentiation in their new TOS and will unfortunately keep out A-100/A-110s that could only handle an HTML version of the site. The YouTube app should show up right next to Revision3 and the others, go ahead and update those media streamer comparison charts we know you've been keeping handy.

YouTube access returning to (some) Popcorn Hour boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popbox prepares for launch with preorders, SDK

Richard Lawler — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:23:00 EST

Despite a delay from an originally intended launch in March the Popbox media streamer and its streamlined-for-mass appeal spin on the Popcorn Hour series is almost upon us. Now the focus is on courting content partners by promising easy porting of current Adobe Flash applications to its new all-Flash platform and display "virtually any multimedia file" on the TV. That strategy has already brought some internet content to the family of devices, and with a newly released SDK (more info after the break) promising compatibility across existing C-200 and A-200 hardware we'll see if it induces others to join in.

[Thanks, Mike]

Continue reading Popbox prepares for launch with preorders, SDK

Popbox prepares for launch with preorders, SDK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget HD: Boxee Box vs A-200 NMT vs. Popbox, which media streamer to choose?

Richard Lawler — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST

Three mini media streamer boxes are arriving in the early days of 2010, and only one will likely end up bringing video to your HDTV. Of the A-200 NMT, Popbox and Boxee Box, only the A-200 has actually reached the most early adopters yet, but we'll assume you've perused spec sheets and considered the possibilities carefully. Our friend Dilip's question is very, very simple:

"With the A-200 already on sale, I'm not sure if I should pick it up, or wait for the Boxee or Popbox to ship later."

So, as a discriminating buyer, what are you planning to do? Sticking with an existing media streamer setup or do you think any of the new hardware coming down the pipe will coax you into a purchase? Let us know about your early impressions of these products in the comments, and check out a video sneak peek of the new UI coming to the C-200 and A-200 embedded after the break.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Continue reading Ask Engadget HD: Boxee Box vs A-200 NMT vs. Popbox, which media streamer to choose?

Ask Engadget HD: Boxee Box vs A-200 NMT vs. Popbox, which media streamer to choose? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Syabas Popbox hands-on

Darren Murph — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:59:00 EST

The Popcorn Hour lineup had (and still has) a huge following, but it remains one of the most under-appreciated media streamers on the market from a mainstream perspective. We get the feeling that all of that's gearing up to change, with Syabas demonstrating its highly marketable Popbox here at CES. We were able to swing by and take a look at the product tonight, and we've got to confess -- it'd be a pretty stellar add to any home entertainment setup. The box was small, light and stylish enough, and the actual user interface was drop-dead simple to navigate. It hooks up with any networked media (the demo was playing back content from a NAS drive), and it even pulls down metadata from IMDB for films. We briefly watched a couple of 720p clips, and playback started instantly and the video quality was nothing short of fantastic. We've got a video in the works, but for now, feel free to have a glance at the gallery below.

Update: Video is now live after the break!

Gallery: Syabas Popbox hands-on

Continue reading Syabas Popbox hands-on

Syabas Popbox hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popbox v1.0 hardware specs and content partners revealed

Richard Lawler — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:21:00 EST

We'll have to wait until tomorrow to get our hands on the Popbox, son of Popcorn Hour C-200, but in the meantime we'll chew on this healthy list of specs and content providers to imagine what the future of media streamers has to offer. Netflix and 1080p have already been mentioned, but the lists reveal that even as a slimmed down and more affordable option than the box it replaces, it still has the file and codec compatibility fans have come to expect. We'll soon see if this combo of wide appeal online services like Twitter and MLB.tv, existing media streamer framework, a greatly improved UI (able to pull down IMDB info for appropriately tagged content) and Popapp Center -- openly courting developers to take advantage of the SDK since this box was codenamed DAVID -- is a winner.

Gallery: Syabas Popbox

Continue reading Popbox v1.0 hardware specs and content partners revealed

Popbox v1.0 hardware specs and content partners revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popbox is Popcorn Hour evolved, with 1080p streaming and Netflix support

Ross Miller — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:46:00 EST

Love your Popcorn Hour? Ask creator Syabas Technology, and it's just a prelude to the real deal, which it's just announced as the Popbox. The evolution includes a revamped UI, "infoapps" showing weather and Twitter feeds whenever the viewer pauses, and expanded Popapps support to allow for Java, Flash, and Qt (why hello there, Netflix). Video processing now supports 100Mbps bitrate 1080p video. The box mockup is barebones and includes only the necessary inputs, and storage is relegated to SD cards and external USB drives. Price and release date? Electronista is saying it "should" be out in March to the tune of $129.

Popbox is Popcorn Hour evolved, with 1080p streaming and Netflix support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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